Japan

Every Japan visa route, explained

Japan has a route for every purpose — short visits (visa-free or a Temporary Visitor visa), plus student, working and Specified Skilled Worker visas, family status, Digital Nomad and Highly Skilled Professional routes. Routes with verified step-by-step guides link straight to them; the rest link to the official MOFA pages.

The routes

Visit & tourism

Short-Term Stay (Temporary Visitor)

Short visits for tourism, business or visiting friends/relatives, up to 90 days with no paid work — visa-exempt or via a Temporary Visitor visa (sometimes through the JAPAN eVISA system).

Tourists, short-term business visitors and family visitors

10 verified step-by-step guides →

Study

Student visa

For college, pre-college and language-school students studying in Japan.

Students enrolled at a Japanese school or university

official page →

Work & business

Working visa

For engineers, specialists in humanities, instructors, researchers, medical and other professional employment.

Professionals employed by a Japanese organisation

official page →

Specified Skilled Worker (SSW)

For work-ready foreign nationals with expertise in designated industrial fields (SSW (i) and (ii)).

Skilled workers in designated labour-shortage sectors

official page →

Family & residence

Spouse or child of Japanese national

For spouses and biological children of Japanese nationals, and dependants of foreign residents.

Family members of Japanese nationals and residents

official page →

Other routes

Digital Nomad (Designated Activities)

Designated-activities status for remote workers and their family staying in Japan.

5 verified step-by-step guides →

Highly Skilled Professional

Points-based status giving preferential treatment to highly skilled foreign professionals.

High-scoring researchers, specialists and managers

official page →

Verified step-by-step guides

Grounded on official sources — documents, fees, timeline, every fact dated and linked.

🇦🇺 Australia → JapanDigital Nomad (Designated Activities)

Australian citizens can apply for Japan's Digital Nomad visa (Designated Activities) — a 6-month stay for remote workers earning at least ¥10 million a year — at a Japanese embassy or consulate before travelling.

🇧🇩 Bangladesh → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Bangladeshi citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇨🇦 Canada → JapanDigital Nomad (Designated Activities)

Canadian citizens can apply for Japan's Digital Nomad visa (Designated Activities) — a 6-month stay for remote workers earning at least ¥10 million a year — at a Japanese embassy or consulate before travelling.

🇨🇳 China → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Chinese citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇩🇪 Germany → JapanDigital Nomad (Designated Activities)

German citizens can apply for Japan's Digital Nomad visa (Designated Activities) — a 6-month stay for remote workers earning at least ¥10 million a year — at a Japanese embassy or consulate before travelling.

🇪🇬 Egypt → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Egyptian citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom → JapanDigital Nomad (Designated Activities)

British citizens can apply for Japan's Digital Nomad visa (Designated Activities) — a 6-month stay for remote workers earning at least ¥10 million a year — at a Japanese embassy or consulate before travelling.

🇮🇩 Indonesia → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Indonesian citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇮🇳 India → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Indian citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Sri Lankan citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇳🇵 Nepal → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Nepali citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇵🇭 Philippines → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Filipino citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇷🇺 Russia → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Russian citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇺🇸 United States → JapanDigital Nomad (Designated Activities)

American citizens can apply for Japan's Digital Nomad visa (Designated Activities) — a 6-month stay for remote workers earning at least ¥10 million a year — at a Japanese embassy or consulate before travelling.

🇻🇳 Vietnam → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Vietnamese citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.